Friday, 14 March 2014

Sun, Sand, Beer and Birds

13th March.What a difference a year makes!Last year the low temperatures of spring ensured that there was no sign
of migrants birds returning until well into April.This year they are flooding in early (well a
few Chiffchaff are anyway)as the sun shines
and temperatures rise.We listened to
our first Chiffchaff song for 2014
on the periphery of Holywell Dene, then deep into the dene and also near
Holywell Pond.

It wasn’t just the migrants out enjoying today’s summer like
weather, as Sam and I began our walk from the Brierdene car-park.We walked along the sandy beach towards St
Mary’s Island not finding too many species,
but enjoying the morning anyway.Skylarks sang, Meadow Pipits displayed, Rock
Pipits fed amongst the seaweed, and Pied
Wagtails were in their usual spot feeding.A pair of Eider (I’ve been
pointed in the direction of a new monograph on the Eider Duck due to bepublished later this year) was seen on
the sea but there were more dogs than waders in this area.

Turnstone

It wasn’t until we reached the island that the chance could
be taken to grab some images of waders which included Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone, Dunlin and Redshank.Sam lay in the wet sand to catch images of
the waders as the tide quickly filled channels as it began to flow in.I decided on a different stance and of course
Sam got the best images.He also found a
photographed a quite large, but dead Squid.We were a bit concerned that Sam might stink of wet sand and seaweed
when we adjourned for our fish and chips but he had dried out by then and in a
way where better to smell of the coast than the fish and chip café?

Sam in the seaweed

Before lunch we took some time to watch and photograph the Fulmars, some of which appeared to be
flying out to and returning from a fishing boat.I’m told that there were a few butterflies
about in the fields but we didn’t see any.We watched a Fox run off into
the fields.

Fulmar

The walk through the dene didn’t bring much our way, but we
did have the Chiffchaff song and a
pair of Grey Wagtails.

We found Greylag
Geese and Canada Geese as we
approached Holywell Pond but we were unable to find any sign of the White
Fronted Goose on this occasion.

The pond held five pairs of Shoveller, a pair of Mute
Swans, a pair of Pochard, a pair
of Goldeneye, pairs of Gadwall and along with them were
numbers of Mallard, Tufted Duck and Moorhens.Little Grebes called.We found House
and TreeSparrows near to the feeding station along with tits, Chaffinch (this species had been
singing along the lengh of the walk from Seaton Sluice), Dunnock, Robin and I think a single Greenfinch flew off as I approached. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the trees that it seems to call home.

A Birders Beer

We reached the members hide late afternoon and ideally
I would have liked to spend some time in the atmosphere but unfortunately we
had commitments in the evening so we decided to head for home.I’d intended to finish off my remaining
bottle of Allendale Beer tonight, but as I’d forgot to chill it I decided to
leave it for another evening.I don’t
drink much beer, but when I do I like it chilled!The box of three beers was a Christmas
present from Sam and I can recommend the quality beers.

About Me

''Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”-- Henry Van Dyke.
If you think the common can be as exciting as the rare then this blog may be for you, as it attempts to express my passion for birds and nature. All are part of my daily life and my home patch is all within walking distance of my home, although I often explore wider areas. I ought to be described as a naturalist rather than a birder. I believe that all who take an interest in nature will be well rewarded, but that such rewards ought not to be without reciprocation. My own contribution is made by volunteering, much of which is done in an attempt to help others share in the experience of the natural world. I attempt to reflect my interest in conservation and the fact that I believe the future of a natural world seriously in trouble relies very much relies on an openness of information to all responsible people. Responsible being the key word, and I therefore hope to keep the welfare of wildlife paramount at all times.